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High Weald Characters

Woodland carbon storage

This report quantifies the role that the High Weald's woodlands play in storing carbon.

This report quantifies the role that the High Weald's woodlands play in storing carbon, and forms part of an ongoing programme of research. This wider research is designed to further our understanding of how important the High Weald landscape is in securing our social and economic well-being.

Research purpose: The report forms part of a programme of activities to help us understand more about how important our landscape is to our social and economic well being. The work contributes to targets within Objective G3 of the High Weald AONB Management Plan, whilst adding to our knowledge of how woodlands could help mitigate the effects of climate change.

Research aim(s):

To understand the role of High Weald woodlands in carbon storage.

To inform the JAC's approach to support for the woodland industry in its ambition to improve the utilisation of local timber in buildings.

Research findings: The research shows that trees growing naturally in High Weald woodlands 'lock up' equivalent to a fifth of the annual carbon emissions of each High Weald resident (in the UK the average carbon emissions per person are 10 tonnes of carbon per year).

AONB Unit comment: Woodlands and woodland management have a vital role to play in our response to climate change, as growing trees absorb CO2 from the atmosphere and store it as carbon both above and below ground.

The preparation of a carbon account for woodlands is the first stage in providing advice to assist policy makers and land managers take decisions that reduce emissions and enhance the sequestration 'locking up', of carbon.